Mobile gun carriage



April 24,*951 w. F. MGCANN ETAL MOBILE GUN CARRIAGE 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May e, 194e @mmm WiHiaTH' F NIE-[arm LED' H. lmhnnm pi 24, NSX w. F. MCCANN ErAL 2549,35

MOBILE GUN CARRIAGE Filed May 6, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 gmc/:fvwm William F [Walen-|11 MM www pzri 24%, E951 W. F. MCCANN Erm.

MOBILE GUN CARRIAGE Filed May s, 194s W. F. MCCANN ET AL.

MOBILE GUN CARRIAGE 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 6, 1946 Q. m am,

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' MOBILE GUN CARRIAGE Filed May 6, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 William Mg Eat-m I En H 'Jclhnsmn PFB 24 1951 w. F. MCCANN Erm. 2,549,835

MOBILE GUN CARRIAGE 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 6, 1946 LED H.. 011115011 WUwMf/Mmw pil 24, 1951 w. F. MCCANN ETAL 2,549,835

MOBILE GUN CARRIAGE Filed May 6, 1946 8 Sheel'jS-Sheet 7 William lr. M5 EEN-1n LEE H lnhnsnn PR 24, i951 w. F. MCCANN Erm.

MOBILE GUN CARRIAGE 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed May 6, 1946 am. mm. m9 E o@ /l William F [VEnn-r (0MM www@ Patented Apr. 24, 1951 UNITED ST OFFCE MOBILE GUN CARRIAGE William F. McCann, Los Angeles, Calif., and Leo H. Johnson, Peoria, Ill.

3 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a gun carriage and more particularly to a gun carriage of the type adapted to carry a relatively large caliber gun with a markedly improved degree of mobility.

The speed with which modern warfare travels is far in excess of the heavy artillery arm. Although it is quite possible for light artillery, because of its light weight and hence higher degree of mobility, to maintain supporting contact with advance ground forces, the re power of such weapons does not provide adequate support and considerable dependence must be placed upon heavy artillery of the caliber of 155 mm.v and up.

However, experience has shown that heavy artillery of this type is relatively slow moving and the problem of maintaining adequate contact for the support of advance units has been a large one. There is therefore a definite need for a type of heavy artillery capable of maintaining its proper position with respect to the advance units that it supports.

With the foregoing in view, the present invention contemplates and has for its principal object the provisionrof a gun carriage having a very highly developed degree of cross-country mobility and lending itself admirably to transposition from travelling to firing positionv and back again in accordance with current tactical needs.

To this end, it is another of the principal objects of the invention to provide a gun carriage in the form of a semi-trailed load in which the weight of the rear portion of the carriage is supported on suitable rolling ground supports, such as bogies or tandem rear wheels, and the weight of the forward portion of the carriage is supported by means of a fifth-wheel structure on a prime mover or the like. In contradistinction to the usual type of mobile gun carriage, the carriage provided according to the present invention utilizes retractable front rolling ground supports instead of a removable limber or similar removable supporting means characteristic of gun carriages heretofore employed. The purpose of the retractable ground supports is to enable the carriage to be self sustaining when unsupported by and disconnected from thel prime mover; in addition, the carriage at this time may be easily moved short distances to compensate for adjustments in firing position.

Itis a further object of the invention to provide amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) a gun carriage having a high degree of mobility and notation, these characteristics being laccomplished preferably by the use of large wheels and bogies in lieu of endless tracks or the like.

The invention has for another important object the provision of means whereby the carriage may be easily and readily transposed from travelling position to firing position, which result is accomplished by the provision of-bed plates, bogie plates and trails, all of which are preferably power-operated. The construction in' its preferred form includes a pair of bed plates at the forward end of the carriage, a pair of bogie plates at the rear of the carriage and a pair of rearwardly extendible and forwardly foldable trails likewise at the rear end of the carriage. It is an object of the invention to provide power means for operating the emplacement means either individually or simultaneously so that various degrees of adjustment of the carriage may be accomplished. In this connection the invention accomplishes the support of the rear end of the carriage through the medium of retaining a portion of the weight of the carriage on the bogies.

It is specifically an object of the invention to provide hydraulic means for operating those portions of the emplacement means consisting of the bogie and bed plates and to provide auxiliary manually operable mechanism for the same purpose in the event of failure of the hydraulic means. Another specific object of the invention is to provide power mechanism, preferably mechanical, for the operation of the carriage trails, and to provide as an adjunct to this mechanism auxiliary manually operable means available in the event of malfunctioning of the power mechanism. l

It is still another object of the invention to provide a gun carriage comprising a unitary elongated frame of box-like construction, welded throughout, and having its forward portion upwardly and forwardly oifset to accommodate a fifth-wheel structure for the support of the forward portion of the carriage ona prime mover or the like. In this respect it is another object of the invention to provide a pintle well at the rear of the carriage for supporting the gun in suchmanner that during travelling of the gun and carriage the gun tube points forwardly.

It is an important object of the invention to provide trail structure comprising a pair of trails mounted in such manner that the trails, when folded in travelling position, extend forwardly of and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the carriage, one on each side of the forwardly extend- 3 ing gun tube and, when the carriage is emplaced, extend rearwardly of the carriage and diverge or spread to increase the footing provided for the emplaced carriage.

Other objects of the invention are to provide: improved trails of girder construction; improved base plates and spades for the trails; simplified and effective means for locking the trails and gun tube in travelling position; a highly eiec'- tive bogie construction for supporting the' rear of the carriage; mechanism for retracting the front rolling ground supports when the carriage is in travelling position; and a generally improved highly mobile gun carriage'` capable of travelling at relatively high speeds over varying terrains and under divers tactical conditions.

The foregoing and other important objects and features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description and accompanying sheets of drawings in which: d

Fig. l is a side View of the carriage in travelling position, a portion of the prime mover being indicated as in position to support the weight of the forward portion of the carriage;

, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same;

A Fig. 3 is a plan view of the emplaced carriage, the gun being omitted;

Fig. 4 is a side View of the arrangement of Fig.

K Fig. 5 is a plan view of the carriage frame per se;

Fig. 5 is a side view of the structure of Fig. 5;

Fig, 7 is a transverse cross sectional view taken on the line 'l-'l of Fig. 5 ;V Y

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on the line 8--3 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a plan View of the wheel-suspension system for the carriage, portions of the carriage frame being indicated in phantom and other portions in cross section;

Fig. 1G is a side view of the structure of Fig. 9;

Fig. ll is a transverse sectional view, on a slightly enlarged scale, taken on the line il--ll of Fig. 9 and illustrating the means for positioning one of the front wheels;

Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line lZ-lZ of Fig. 9 and vshowing the bogie suspension;

Fig. 13 is a transverse sectional View, on a slightly enlarged scale, taken along the line |3-l3 of Fig. 4 and showing the supporting means for the rear portion of the carriage and the rear emplacementmeans or bed plates, the emplaced positions of the latter being shown in broken lines;

Fig. lll is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation of the means for locking the gun tube in travelling position;

Fig'. l5 is a plan view of the power mechanism for operating the carriage trails, portions of the carriage frame being shown in phantom and portions of the supporting structure being shown in cross section;VVV Y Fig. 16 is a side View of the mechanism shown in Fig. l5, the gearing for the trail mechanism being exposed;

Fig. 17 is an angular sectional view taken on the line iI--l'l of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the means for locking the trails in extended position;

Fig. 19 is a vertical sectional view of the same, the view being taken on the line IQ-I 9 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a plan view of one of the trails per se;

Fig. 2l is a side view of the same;

Fig. 22 is a perspective View of a trail spade per Se;

Fig. 23 is a perspective view of a trail base plate per se;

Fig. 24 is a schematic plan view of the bed and bogie plates and the power and control means for operating the same; and

Fig 25 is a side view of the mechanism of Fig. 24.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION In the preferred form of the invention illustrated and described herein, the mobile gun carriage comprises a longitudinal main frame 3l having an upwardly and forwardly `extending supporting portion 3| for the accommodation of a fifth-wheel structure 32 by means of which the carriage may be supported on a prime mover or the like, a fragment of which is indicated at 33 in Fig, l. The weight of the rear portion of the carriage is supported, during travel of the carriage, by a rear rolling ground support preferably comprising a bogie or tandem rear wheel unit Sil. The carriage is provided at its forward portion, just rearwardly of the fifth-wheel structure 52, with retractable means providing a front rolling ground support indicated generally by the numeral $25 and preferably comprising a pair of retractable front wheels 35 which, during travel of the carriage, assume the positions shown in Fig. 1.

When the carriage is emplaced at least a portion of the Weight of the rear part of the carriage is supported by rear emplacement means indicated generally by the numeral 3l and preferably comprising a pair of retractable and extendible bogie plates 33. It is preferable that the bogie plates do not provide the entire support for the rear portion of the carriage but that the bogie unit 34 be permitted to contribute to the support of the carriage during emplacement thereof. The weight of the forward portion of the carriage when emplaced, is supported entirely by a forward or front emplacement means indicated generally by the numeral 39 and preferably comprising a pair of transversely spaced bed plates d.

The rear portion of the carriage frame 30 is provided with a rearwardly extending stub frame structure 4l for the pivotal support of a pair of trails 4E. During travel of the carriage the trails i2 are folded forwardly and, in addition to being parallel to th-e frame Sil, are parallel to each otheras shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The pivot means for the mounting of the trails respectively include pivot axes so disposed 'with respect to the frame 3@ and trails 42 that the trails, when extended rearwardly, assume the spread position of Fig. 3. In other words, the trails diverge rearwardly from the carriage frame Ell.

The rear portion of the carriage frame is provided with a pintle well i3 (Fig. 3) for the mounting of the breech portion of a gun 44. The gun includes a gun tube IE5 which, during travel of the carriage, extends forwardly of the carriage frame between the forwardly folded trails 52. The mounting of the gun in the pintle well 43 is such that the gun may have a 360 traverse, together with the necessary elevation and depression.

When the car-riage is travelling, the trails 42 and gun tube l5 are locked in position by a supporting and loclringstructure indicated gen'- erally by the numeral d5 (Fig. 3)

The emplacement means, viz., the bogie plates 38, bed plates 40 and trails 42, are moved from ring position to travelling position by power means. The power means for the bed .and bogie plates is preferably hydraulic (see Figs. 24 and 25) and the mechanism for operation of the trails includes conveniently arranged shafting and gearing (see Figs. l5, 16 and 17). An .auxiliary towing hook or ring 41 is provided at the forward end of the carriage 3B to assist in maneuvering the carriage.

Carriage frame (Figs. 5 to 8) The carriage frame 3D comprises a pair of longitudinally running transversely spaced side frame members 513 and an intermediate central longitudinally extending frame member or sill 5|. The forward portion 3| of the frame-that portion which accommodates the fifth-wheel structure 32-comprises a frame member 52 bent in hairpin form and joined at its opposite rear ends to the side frame members 55 by a pair of rearwardly and downwardly extending side frame plates 53. The junctions of the parts thus far described are welded and a rigid unitary frame structure is provided. The central frame member 5| is substantially coextensive with the side frame members 55 and the three members are transversely interbraced throughout by a plurality of transverse frame members 54 and a plurality of diagonally running brace members 55, at the forward ends, and 56, at the rearward ends. These brace members are welded to the longitudinally running members and contribute to the rigid unitary structure of the frame. The side frame members 55 are preferably of channel form and the central member 5| is preferably an I- beam. The brace members 55, 55 and 55 are also preferably channels. It will be understood, of course, that the frame may be composed of angle bars or structural members of other shapes.

The forward or gooseneck portion 3|, provided by the hairpin member 52 and attaching plates 53, is further braced and connected to the side frame members 5t and central member 5| by means of an upwardly and forwardly projecting central member 5'! that is welded at its lower rear end to the central I-beam 5|, as at 58, and at its forward end is rigidly connected, as by welding, to a transverse member 59 which is welded or otherwise rigidly secured at its opposite ends to the attaching plates 53. The bight portion of the vhairpin frame member 52 is provided with a short transverse frame member 60, preferably welded thereto, and this member is welded intermediate its ends to one end of a relatively short centrally disposed brace member 6I. The rear end of the member 6| is preferably welded to the transverse member 59 and in effect forms an extension of the central member 51. The structure is such that the members 5|, 51 and El form what may be termed the backbone of the carriage frame 3D.

Each forward diagonal brace 55 is provided with a vertical opening 62, the purpose of which will be set forth below in connection with the description of the front emplacement means. The crossed brace members 56 and associated transverse brace member 5B provide means for supporting the rear emplacement means and to this end the bracing structure at each side of the central member 5| is provided with avertical opening 63.

The rear portion of the frame 30 is provided with what is herein termed a stub frame, designated by the numeral 4|, the purpose of which is to mount the trails d2. The stub frame is preferably an integral part of the main frameI 3U and is made up of a plurality of suitable plates and frame members welded together and to the frame 30 and adequately braced to provide a pair of rearwardly diverging supporting tongues 64. Each rearwardly extending tongue portion 64 is inclosed in part at its top portion by a housing 65, the opposite side walls of which are provided with a plurality of transversely aligned openings for the purpose of supporting bearings for the' shafting of the trail-operating mechanism to be' hereinafter described.

Just forwardly of its rear end, the frame 3B? is provided with the pintle well i3 for the mount-l ing of the gun d4. The central I-beam 5| and rearwardmost transverse brace 54 are centrally' cut out tov provide a vertical opening 66 which. receives the pintle of the gun 54, as will here-4 inafter appear.

Substantially the entire frame 3|? is overlaid The bogie 34 preferably comprises four sets of individually sprung dual wheels 1U. Each dual wheel unit is carried on a stub axle mounted in a vertical housing member 1|. Each pair of members on each side of the frame 30 is provided with spring seats which respectively receive the front and rear ends of a longitudinally 'running leaf spring '12. Each spring is pivotally supported intermediate its ends on a transverse shaft 13. The central I-beam 5| is provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced brackets 'lli at its under side (Fig. 12) respectively in transverse alignment with the axles of the -dual wheel units 10. Each bracket is provided at opposite sides with a pair of longitudinally running pivots 15 for the connection of the inner ends respectively of a plurality of transversely extending yokes 16. Each yoke is pivotally connected at its outer end on a longitudinal pivot axis to the respective wheel-supporting member 7|. v The upper portion of the frame 35 carries a plurality-in the present instance four-of shock absorbers preferably of the hydraulic double-acting type, herein indicated generally by the numeral ll. Each shock absorber unit includes a pivotally mounted transversely extending arm 18, the outer end of which is pivotally connected on a longitudinalv axis to the upper end of the respective wheel-- supporting member 1|. The unit thus described' provides for the free floating support of the rear end of the carriage and contributes to the increased mobility of the carriage over varying terrain.

Gun and mount (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and ?)y The rear end of the gun '34 is provided with a gun mount 80. The mount may b e of conventional construction and is secured in place on the frame 30 by means of the pintle well 43 previously described. rIhe bearing race 69 (Fig. 8) is adapted to carry ball or roller bearings of any suitable type for mounting the gun for the desired traverse. The mount includes a cradle :agees-,set

Traz'lsumi'momttz'rzg4 thereof (Figs. 2, 3, 15 and 20 t0 23) As previously stated, the, stub-frame structure M at the rear of thecarriage frame tu iszprovided with two laterally: outwardly angled supporting portions or tongues 64. Eachof these portions has; J'Qurnaled therein ashortshaft Ell. As best shown in'Figs.' 3 and l5, the axis ofeach shaft tisat an acute angle tothe longitudinal axis of the carriage frame 30, the Vaxes ofthe shafts-f being, ocourse, reversed; In:l the present instanee-the-angle formedl at the intersection of eachl shaft and' longitudinal.v axis of the frame Eil isapproximately 75. The shafts Si! serve tofpivotally` mount the trails |32 respectively on'- the tongues 655,

Asbest shown in Figs. 2O and 21. each trail comprises a girderY provided at its'forward'end with afrigidupstandingconnecting portion 9| at the upper end of which is provided a gear segment or arcuate racle 92'- concentric of shaft 9D. The segment or rack is rigidly and preferably removably mounted on the connectingY portion 9i.Y Each trail isof rigid unitary construction,

preferably welded throughout, and is provided at its forwardend with a base plate S3 and at its rear end with a .spade 96these being shown in detail in Figs. 23 and 22, respectively. The spades and base plates are provided at their under surfaces with a plurality of cross Webs to increase the eectiveness of the contact of the trails with the ground. The base plates are provided with a plurality of upstanding projections Bybymeans of which they may be readily ati,

tached respectively to thetrails 42.

Each'shaft SG iskeyed or otherwise rigidly carried by the rupstanding` connectingk portion 9| on, the respective trail and opposite ends of the shaft project at opposite Asideso-f the portion Si so that the shaft may be journaled in the respective tongue 64. The shafts, then, serve to pivotally connect the trails for swinging Vmovement about theshaft axes from an emplacement position, in Vwhich the trails are extended in spread relationship at the rear of the frame, toa travelling position, in which the trails are folded forwardly and lie parallel to each other at opposite sides of thelongitudinally extending gun tube 45.

Travelling lock for trails' and gun tube (Figs 1 to 4, 13, and 14) s. these` members being likewisev included in' the supporting structure 45 preferably.A by' Welding'. Eachmember m31 is preferably turned up atits outer end to prevent lateral displacement of'.v the trail received therein. The supporting structure it? is provided adjacent the inner end of each trail-receiving member H33: With a pair of longitudinallyspaced upstanding ears IEM. Each pair vor ears carriesv a longitudinal pivot E05 on which isl mounted aA laterally swingable hook member |06. The hook members |06; provide locking means for securing the trails in travelling position on the gun carriage. Each locking means iscontrolled. by an operating. handle |01. The

. arrangement betweenlthe parts' |05gv06 and |91 is such that'. a locking: action is effected when the handles |01 areV moved inwardly or downwardly andso that release is accomplished-when they handles are moved upwardly or outwardly. 'Ehe means involved may include either cam mechanism or thehandles |l'! and pivot' members |0511 may be=threaded together so that the locking members liSare: jammed longitudinally against the supporting earsY |64. When the handlesy lill are moved upwardly'to release the hooks |06, the latterV may be swung inwardly'or downwardlyztoward the members |2to provide ample space-for the trails vto 'move into or outzof travelling position.

The central portion of the supporting structure-:4S includes an upstanding'gun-tube-receiving element |08, the upper portion of which is semicylindricaltoreceive the gun tube 45". A locking. member Hill-isY hinged on a longitudinal axis at` one side of t-he'elementv l'and is semicylindrical and complementary tothe upper con'- tour of the element |08 so that the gun tube is embraced thereby. Lock means of any conventionalconstruction may beprovided to lock the clamp-or locking member |09* to the element |08-, such'lock being designatedl herein'by the numeral Theelement IDBI-is connectedto the upsta'ndi-ng central structurelby means of a transverse-pivot I l.- As-best shown in"Fig. 14, the entirey tube-receiving element |08, together with its locking-member: l E19;l may be swung forwardly tofassume ahorizontal position, as shown infbroken lines in the ligure referredf'to. Thetravell-ing lockfor the] gun :tube is thusmovablefou-toii-the. path of freetraverseI of the gun tube at zero Velevationwhen the-gun tube' is swung so thatv it crosses the forward 'portionfof the. carriage.

A rearwardly... and downwardly extending brace H2.. is rigid-ly connectedy at'opposite ends, as` by welding, to. the. .supporting :structure-4 S I'andcentral member 5| [ofthe-,carriage frame30 and 'completes thel travelling Asupport forv the trails` and gun tube.

Trail-operating;mechmism y(Figs.v 3 cmd 15 `to'17) facefoitmed on a clutch-member' l lkeyed to'but axially slidablefonthe shaft IIE.- A compression 4spring I I9 is interposed between the clutch member |8 and a collar |20,'which is rigid on the Shaft ||5, and normally maintains engagement between the clutch member ||8 and gear ||1 so that the latter drives the shaft under normal loads, the construction providing one form of well known slip clutch mechanism.

Each gear ||1 is in constant mesh with and is driven by a driving pinion |2| keyed to a short shaft |22. The shafts |22 respectively parallel the shafts 90 and ||5. Each shaft |22 is journaled in the housing 65 on the trail-mounting tongue 64 and has keyed thereto a worm wheel |23. Each worm wheel |23 is in constant mesh with and is driven by a worm I 24 keyed to a generally longitudinally running drive shaft |25, opposite ends of which are suitably journaled on the carriage frame 39 and in the respective tongue 64. The forward end of each shaft |25 is connected by a universal joint |26 to a longitudinally extending power shaft I 21. Each shaft |21 is suitably journaled on the carriage frame 30, as by a bearing |28 adjacent its forward end, and is provided at its extreme forward end with a bevel pinion |29, the connection between the shaft |21 and the bevel pinion |29 being effected in any conventional manner so that the shaft and pinion rotate conjointly.

The carriage frame 30 carries intermediate its front and rear ends a gear housing |30 which contains suitable change-speed transmission gearing (not shown) including a laterally ex- .tending right-hand drive shaft |3| and a lefthand laterally extending drive shaft |32. The

rdrive shaft |3| has keyed to its outer end, for

rotation therewith, a bevel pinion |33 in driving relation with the bevel pinion |29 on the rightydrive the power shafts |3| and |32 individually or simultaneously to provide selective control of the trails 42.

In the event of malfunctioning or failure of Athe power mechanism for the trails, the present invention provides individual manually operable means to accomplish folding and extension of Athe trails. As best shown in Fig. 16, the upper portion of the carriage frame 30 carries at each side thereof, at laterally spaced points thereon, an upstanding housing 38 in each of which is journaled a vertical shaft |39. Each shaft |39 is controlled by a hand wheel |40 keyed to or otherwise rigidly secured to its upper exposed end. Each housing |38 is axially recessed to receive a grooved collar |4| preferably formed integral with the hand wheel |46. A coiled compression spring |42 is located in the recess in the f housing |38 and normally operates, through the medium of the collar |4I, to move the shaft |39 and hand wheel |40 upwardly. During the upper either shaft |21 by the manual means, the hand Wheel |40 and shaft |39 are moved axially dov/n- `wardly so that driving engagement is effected between the bevel pinions |29 and |43. A locking member |44 is pivoted at the upper end of the housing |38 and is engageable with the grooved collar |4| to maintain the operatingposition of the hand wheel and shaft. It will be understood, of course, that operation of the trail mechanisms by the manually operable means is best accomplished by placing the transmission in neutral and operating the hand wheels |40 individually.

Trail emplacement lock (Figs. 15 to 1.9)

Each trail-mounting tongue 64 of the stub frame 4| is provided with means for locking the trails i2 in emplaced or firing position. These means are constructed in such manner as to provide a rigid connection between the trails 42 and the carriage frame 30. For general reference, each of these means is identified by the numeral |50.

Each means consists of a short transverse shaft |5| carried at opposite ends in opposite side walls of the respective housing 65. As best shown in Fig. 19, the outer end of the shaft |5| is carried in a removable bearing cap |52 secured to the proximate side wall of the housing 65 by a plurality of cap screws |53 threaded through the wall of the housing and into a reinforcing plate |54 at the inside of the housing wall. The opposite wall of the housing carries an internally splined cap 55 having a radial flange seated against a reinforcing plate |56 similar to the reinforcing plate |54. The inner end of the shaft |5| is provided with a radial flange |51 which abuts the inner face of the radial fiange on the splined cap |55. The shaft |5| is externally splined, as at |58, adjacent the flange |51 and fits the internal spline in the cap |55. The eX- treme inner end of the shaft |5| is threaded, preferably with square or acme threads, as at |59, An internally splined Washer |60 complements that portion of the spline 53 on the shaft |5| that extends inwardly through the reinforcing plate |56 and inner Wall of the housing 65. The splined washer |60 and the internally splined cap |55 arerelatively movable axially within limits, movement of the cap |55 being limited between the flange |51 on the shaft |5| and the interior face of the reinforcing plate |56; axial movement of the washer |60 is limited on the one hand by the external face ofthe inner wall of the housing and on the other hand by a locking nut |6| internally threaded to yfit the threads |59 of the shaft |5|, the inner end of the nut |6| abutting the external face of the washer |60. The washer |60 is provided with an operating handle |62 bymeans of which the washer and shaft |5| may be rotated. The locking nut |6| is provided with a similar handle |63 by means of which the nut may be tightened on the shaft |5| to clamp the washer |50 and cap 55 together with the inner wall of the housing 65 therebetween; loosening of the nut |6| by reverse operation thereof releases the clamping action on the parts just described.

The shaft |5| is provided intermediate its ends and between the opposite walls of the housing 65 with an enlarged circular portion |64 having its axis eccentric to the axis of the shaft |5|. A locking hook |65 is bored at |66 to loosely fit the eccentric portion |64. That portion of the hook Y |65 just below the shaft |5| is drilled transversely to receive a pin |61. A dog |68, secured to the eccentric portion |64by a cap screw |69, operates,

'11 when the shaft -I| is rotated in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 18) by the -handle |62 .on

the washer |68, to engage the pin |61 for swing- I ff ing the hook 165 in a clockwise direction. As

best shown in Fig. 18, the hook |65, when in locking position, engages the forward portion of the respective trail 42, the latter being specially provided with a forwardly projecting portion having its under side ynotched as at |'1| to receive 'the hooked end of the hook.

When the trail is extended rearwardly in emplaced or firing position, the portion |16 thereof will lie in position to have the notch |1| engaged by thehook |65. When the locking nut |6| is xloosened, the hook |65 is free to engage the por- .tion'llil of the trail 42, the design being such that the hook |65 will swing by gravity to the position shown .in Fig. 18. When the shaft |5i'is rotated by meansY of `the handle |62 on the washer |60, the eccentric portion |64 will operate to move the hook |65 upwardly so that the hooked end thereof tightly engages and effects a clamping action on the forwardly projecting portion |18 on the trail 42. With lthe parts 'in this position, the lock nut |6| is tightened by means of .the handle |63 and the shaft |f5| yis held against rotation by means of the clamping action effective between the cap |55, washer |60 and proximate wall of the housing 65.

When it is desired to release the shaft |5| for rotation inthe opposite direction for the release of the trail portion |18, the nut |6| is loosened by reverse operation of the handle |63. The handle |62 may now be moved in the opposite direction to rotate the shaft |5| oppositely so that the eccentric |64 causes the hook |65 to move downwardly and out of clamping engagement with the trail portion |10. Continued rotation of the washer in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 18) effects engagement between the .dog |68 on the eccentric |164 and the projecting pin |61, with the result that the hook is likewise moved in a clockwise direction and the lower end thereof is .swung forwardly ,and entirely out of engagement with the projecting trail portion |10.

Front and rear emplacement means and power means therefor (Figs. v4, 241mm 25) As previously stated, it is an object of this invention to provide power vmeans for operating the front and rear emplacement means heretofore designated generally by thenumerals .39 and 38 respectively. In the preferred .form of the in vvention illustrated,v the power meanslfor operating the emplacement means involves an hydraulic system. It will be understood, of course, that any other suitable means may be employed to accomplish generally the same result; however, it has been found that the hydraulic system lends itself particularly well to the results desired.

Since the specific Yform of hydraulic system disclosed herein forms .no part -of the present invention except insofar as it is combined with other componen-ts of the carriage, no particular vdetail will be devoted to the illustration and description thereof, the drawing being somewhat schematic and the description being only suiiiciently detailed to permit an understanding of the relationship of the hydraulic system to the j emplacement means and the carriage construction. As best shown in the figures referred t0 bQYe;

andas previously mentioned, the rear emplacement means 31 comprises a pair of transversely spaced bogie plates 38 adapted, when raised, to be positioned clear of the ground and adapted, when lowered, to engage the ground. The front emplacement means 39, comprising the pair of transversely spaced bed plates d6, is similarly characterized as to function and result.

Each of the bogie plates 38 of the rear emplacement means 31 is provided with a generally vertically disposed force-exerting element, herein `comprising a two-way hydraulic cylinder and vpiston unit |86. lEach of the bed plates 46 of the front emplacement means 35 is provided with a similar two-way hydraulic cylinder and piston unit I8 The carriage frame Sil carries at a point thereon between the front and rear emplacement means, the necessary components of a iiuid system, which may employ either air, oil or any other suitable medium. As shown in Figs. 24 and 25, the carriage frame carries a suitable pump |82, a fluid reservoir |83 and a motor ld for driving the pump |82. The fluid system further includes a pair of four-way valves |85 and a second pair of four-way valves |86. One of the valves |85 is suitably connected by fluid lines |81 and |88 to the lower and upper ends respectively of one of the front two-way cylinders |8| the other valve |85 is similarly connected to the other front cylinder. One of the valves |86 is appropriately connected by fluid lines |69 and |98 to the lower and upper ends respectively of one of the rear cylinders |86; the other valve |86 is similarly connected to the other rear cylinder. Each of the valves |85 and |86 is connected by conduit means |9| to the pressure side of the pump |82 and each of these valves is connected by conduit means |92 to the intake side of the reservoir |83. Conduit means |93 connects the output side of the reservoir |83 with the intake side of the pump |82.

The valves |85 and |86 may be of any typical four-way type, the operation of which is well known to those skilled Vin theart. The arrangement is such that each of the valves |85 and each of the valves |86 may be individually operated to direct fluid under pressure to either the lower yor upper end of the two-way cylinder to which it is connected, the controlled flow being `such that fluid under pressure passes from the pump |62 through the conduit ISI, through an appropriate valve to one end of a cylinder and re- 'turns through the valve and through the conduit `means |92 to the reservoir I 33. It will be understood, of course, that any number lof different fluid systems and control therefor may be employed. The foregoing is illustrated .schematically as a simple form of fluid system for the purposes of illustration in connection with the :present invention.

As an adjunct to the hydraulic system just described, there is provided a manually operable pumpiell which is provided with an operating handleA |65 and which is connected by iiuid lines. |96 and |91 into the output and return lines |91 Y and |93, respectively, of the system. Suitablevalves |93 and |69 are provided for cutting out the pump |82 vin the event of failure thereof.

The cylinders |86 and |8| are suitably Esupported or `carried by the carriage frame 3E] and project generally vertically through the openings 63 and 62, respectively, previously described (Fig. 5),

Retractable front wheels (Figs. I, 4, 9, and 11) As described above, the front rolling ground support, generally designated by the numeral 35, comprises a pair of transversely spaced, retractable front wheels 36 capable of sustaining the weight of the forward portion of the carriage when the carriage is disconnected from and unsupported by the prime mover or the like. These wheels are mounted for movement from a ground-engaging position to a position clear of the ground when the carriage is travelling. Although the carriage is normally emplaced by means of the trails 42 and rear and iront emplacement means 31 and 39, when it is disconnected from the prime mover, it is often desirable to lower the front wheels 36 to groundengaging position so that the carriage may be maneuvered for short distances.

In order that the front wheels 36 may be moved between a position clear of the ground and a position in engagement with the ground, the front end of the carriage 30 is provided with a pair of manually operable means-one for each wheel-for raising and lowering the wheels. Since these mechanisms are alike, only one will be described, it being understood that the description pertains likewise to the other.

Each of the longitudinal frame members 50 is provided at its forward end, adjacent its junction with the front transverse frame member 54, with an upstanding plate 200, to the outer face of which is rigidly secured a vertical channel guide 20L A vertical screw 202 is journaled at its upper and lower ends respectively in the upper and lower ends of the channel guide 20! and the upper end of the screw has keyed thereto a bevel pinion 203. The upper end of the supporting plate 200 is provided with a bearing 204 which is bored on a transverse axis to journal a short shaft 205 preferably formed integral with an operating crank 206. The outer end of the shaft portion 205 has keyed thereto a bevel pinion 20'! in constant mesh with the bevel pinion 203 at the upper end of the screw 202. The channel guide 20| carries for vertical sliding therein a wheel block 208. This block is provided with a spindle 209 on which the wheel 36 is rotatably carried. 'Ihe sliding wheel block 208 is internally threaded to receive the screw 202. Rotation of the bevel pinion 201 in either direction by means of the crank 200 will rotate the screw 202 and will raise or lower the wheel 36.

OPERATION AND USE When the carriage is assembled and arranged for mobile cross-country travelling, the components thereof assume the positions illustrated in Figs. l and 2, wherein it is shown that the weight of the carriage is distributed between the rear wheels 'I0 and the rear of the prime mover 33. The trails are folded forwardly and lie parallel alongside the forwardly extending gun tube 45, these three elements being locked in their travelling positions by means of the travelling lock mechanisms provided therefor. Because of the compactness of the unit and its notation as a semi-trailed load, it is easily transported and may be moved rapidly from one position to another, all in keeping with varying conditions of terrain and tactical requirements.

When it is desired to emplace the carriage and arrange it for firing, the hydraulic mechanism of Figs. 23 and 24 is operated to move the front and rear emplacement means 39 and 37 to ground-engaging position. By means of the individual control valves provided'for the front emplacement means, the front plates 40 may be emplaced temporarily as jacks to raise the front of the carriage so that the prime mover may be moved free thereof, after which the carriage may be leveled. It is desired, in emplacing the carriage, that the bogie plates 38 do not support the entire weight of the rear end of the carriage; instead, it is desired only that the wheels 'l0 be relieved of a part of the carriage weight and that the rear of the carriage be supported through the combined effort of the wheels 'I0 and the rear emplacement means 3l.

In the event that conditions are such that the terrain is uneven, level emplacement of the carriage may be accomplished by means of the varying adjustments of the emplacement means permitted by the individual control valves |85 and |86, by means of which greater or lesser quantities of fluid may be supplied to individual cylinders as needed. Similarly, the trails may be moved to emplacement condition either simultaneously or individually and in either case separate adjustments of either can be accomplished.

In the event that it is desired to move the carriage for relatively short distances Without remounting the carriage on the prime mover, the front wheels 3S may be lowered to the ground.

It will be noted from an examination of Figs. 2 and 3 that the mounting of the trails is such that the trails, when folded, occupy a space of relatively slight transverse width but, when extended, are spread to such an extent that the rear or outer ends thereof are spaced apart a distance considerably greater than the overall width of the carriage. It will be appreciated that this construction provides for increased stability of the unit when emplaced and for compactness of arrangement with the carriage for travelling.

Various other constructional, functional and operational details will undoubtedly occur to those skill-ed in the art. Likewise, many alterations and modifications may suggest themselves. It will be understood, of course, that the description and drawings herein lpertain only to a preferred embodiment of the invention and that many modifications and alterations` may be accomplished without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

While the invention has been illustrated with reference to a gun carriage this is mainly for illustrative purposes and is not to be considered so limiting the invention since other modes of application in operation are as w-ell adapted to the improvement and in general it finds its utility in load handling vehicles in general.

What is claimed is:

l. In a gun carriage, an elongated rectangular vehicle frame having rearwardly and laterally projecting extensions at the rear corners thereof, rst and second elongated trails, means pivoting each trail to a respective extension on a normally normally horizontal axis, a supporting .structure fixed to said vframe in transverse, generally horizontal upstanding relation therewith forwardly of said pintle well, means carried by said structure at opposite ends thereof to support and lock the respective trails in folded position, and a gun tube support centrally located on said structure and pivotable on a horizontal axis from an upstanding position for receiving and supporting the gun tube lin horizontal, forwardlyextending traveling position, to a downwardly folded position out of the path of said gun tube when said tube is traversed through the forwardly-directed position.

2. In a gun carriage, an elongated vehicle frame generally rectangular in plan and having a rearwardly and laterally outwardly projecting extension at each rear corner thereof, first and second elongated trails, means connecting each trail at one end thereof to a respective extension of said frame for pivotal movement about a nor mally horizontal axis at less than 90 to the longitudinal axis of said frame, from a first position extended rearwardly and outwardly of said frame, to a second position in which each trail is folded on said frame in generally horizontal forwardly-extending position along a respective side thereof, a gun tube, means mounting said tube on said frame at the rear central portion thereof for pivotal movement in train and elevation, a support secured :to the central portion of said fram-e in transverse relation thereto and including end portions adapted to support and lock said trails in said second position and a central portion adapted to support said tube in horizontal forwardly-directed traveling position, said central portion being pivotably about a horizontal transverse axis from an upstanding gun-supporting position to a downwardly folded position out of the path of traverse of said gun when at zero elevation.

3. A gun carriage as recited in claim 2, a fourwheeled bogie providing a rolling ground support for the rear end of said frame, said bogie having pairs of wheels in tandem at each side of said frame, the front end of the frame terminating in an upwardly and forwardly extending portion adapting the frame to be horizontally supported and the remainder of the load of the carriage to be supported by automotive tractive means, emplacement plates at the respective sides of the front portion of the frame, emplacement plates at the respective sides of the rear portion of the frame between the tandem wheels, means mounting each said plate for movement relatively to said frame from a ground engaging position to a retracted position, and hydraulic power means carried by said frame and operable to so move each said Plate individually.

WILLIAM F. MCCANN.

LEO H. JOHNSON.

CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,297,445 Christie Mar. 18, 1919 1,310,142 Schneider July 15, 1919 1,321,774 Schneider Nov. 11, 1919 1,426,219 Roy Aug. 15, 1922 1,473,628 Joyce Nov. 13, 1923 1,483,151 Zimmerman Feb. 12, 1924 1,483,169 Filloux Feb. 12, 1924 1,762,915 Davis June 10, 1930 1,858,495 Goebel-t et al. May 17, 1932 2,015,100 Cederstrom June 6, 1935 2,043,989 Conlon June 16, 1936 2,166,564 Atwood et al July 18, 1939 2,232,095 Coder Feb. 18, 1941 2,313,877 Joyce Mar. 16, 1943 2,379,991 Riboud July 10, 1945 2,392,506 Rossmann Jan. 8, 1946 2,415,024 Allen Jan. 28, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 8,654 Great Britain Apr. 3, 1902 532,682 lFrance Nov. 18, 1921 800,842 France July 20, 1936 825,916 France Mar. 17, 1938 495,504 Great Britain Nov. l5, 1938 

